COVID-19: Chapter 9 - OMGicron

Germany warned over intensive care capacity as Covid deaths at highest level since February

The Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s state infectious disease agency, reported 67,186 new cases on Wednesday, up 302 from a week ago, and 446 deaths. That deaths figure is the country’s highest daily figure since 18 February.

Gernot Marx, the president of the DIVI association for intensive care medicine, warned that the country could still have 6,000 people in intensive care by Christmas regardless of what measures are now decided by politicians.

That compares with a previous high of 5,745 coronavirus patients in intensive care on 3 January. Germany also has fewer beds available now due to a shortage of nursing staff.

“The situation is really becoming increasingly tight,” Marx told ZDF television, calling for the government to consider a temporary lockdown. “We need to save the clinics from collapse.”

Associated Press report that four people in southern Germany have tested positive for the Omicron Covid-19 variant even though they were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the public health office in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said.

That could be a challenge. Right now I’m going to be outside of Munich returning to Frankfurt late to fly out the next day.

Excellent post. Thank you.

Hospitalizations in Vermont are absolutely skyrocketing.

Yesterday shattered the all-time record (set the day before) by 25%. Number is twice what it was three weeks ago.

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How dare I use “the sequencers” as an obvious shorthand for “the greater sequencing and genomic surveillance apparatus consisting of multiple technologies, instruments, laboratory preps, technicians, etc.” I guess you want to insist on nitpicking the use of “incompetent” instead of “deliberately inadequate?” Fine, conceded. Just reread my post with those in mind. Thank you for fighting this important battle.

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This effectively bans international travel. Hopefully, they won’t.

Dozens of countries have imposed stricter travel rules, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday it was requiring all air travellers entering the country to show a negative Covid-19 test performed within one day of departure.

Why would it do that? Will make it more expensive to start, but we already see the $300 rapid test places popping up at the airport. Rapid testing preboarding seems like a long-term mitigation that would actually make international travel more possible IMO. Requirement should be within 24 hours or day of, 72 hours too big of a hole.

Is this rapid PCR testing or rapid antigen testing?

You just took Pfizer, you will be okay now.

Probably antigen, but rapid test preflight>>>PCR test 72 hours in advance IMO

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it’s really annoying to see how border control is the only response we’re willing to do.

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In case you didn’t know, all virus respect dotted lines on a map, and thus can be accurately categorized as thus.

Well, dont worry, we arent really even doing border control.

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Thanks Bernie.

This thing is now booming through Gauteng.

Yesterday: 3,143 cases (10.2% national positivity rate)
Today: 6,168 cases (16.5% national positivity rate)

Deaths remain low.

https://twitter.com/nicd_sa/status/1466089777938280452

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Reuters has compiled a breakdown of where Omicron cases have been detected, and how many, by region:

Africa
Botswana 19
Ghana (unspecified number)
Mozambique 2
Nigeria 2
South Africa about 100 (reported on 26 Nov)

Americas
Brazil 3
Canada 7

Asia
Japan 2
South Korea 5

Europe
Austria 1
Denmark 5
Germany 4
Ireland 1
Italy 1
Netherlands 14
Norway 2
Portugal 13
Spain 2
Sweden 3
United Kingdom 22

Middle east
Saudi Arabia 1

Reuters seem to be missing: -
Hong Kong
France (Reunion Island (Edited thx to @Iron81))

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hold up, aren’t they only finding a few cases in SA? If their numbers are this high, the percentage that are this new variant is important.